15 ITBP aspirants fall from train, diel
Irked candidates go on rampage l
Torch vehiclesLucknow, February 1
At least seven youths, travelling atop a train while returning from Bareilly after submitting documents for jobs in ITBP, were killed when they were hit by an overbridge in Shahjahanpur district today, police said.A huge rush during the ITBP recruitment drive in Bareilly on Tuesday. — PTI

CBI seizes Adarsh documents
Mumbai, February 1
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has seized a large number of documents pertaining to allotment of flats and permissions given for constructing the Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society, according to sources. The documents were seized after the investigating agency opened a number of sealed flats belonging to the office-bearers of the society, according to sources.

ULFA leaders discuss road map to peace
Guwahati, February 1
The outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) held its crucial general council meeting to discuss various issues related to the nascent peace process with the Government of India.

Radia tape leakage being probed: Govt
New Delhi, February 1
The government today told the Supreme Court that it was taking seriously the issue of leakage of conversation between Tata chief Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and that an inquiry has been ordered into it.

CMs’ conference
Himachal to monitor Tibetans’ activities
New Delhi, February 1
Days after seizure of unaccounted money from the monastery of 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje at Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister PK Dhumal today announced that the state would set up a unit to monitor activities of the 27,000-odd Tibetan refugees.

For half of Indian students
getting 60% is a tough task
New Delhi, February 1
The Government's annual school education report released today presents a dismal picture of education outcomes. Nowhere near the Pratham methodology, which uses detailed tools to research what the students have grasped at school, the data released by the HRD Ministry calculates the learning outcomes on the basis of examination results of primary and upper primary students.

India: Egypt unrest reflects aspiration for reforms
New Delhi, February 1
After closely monitoring the developments in Egypt over the past week, India today took what appeared to be a somewhat clear stand on the situation in the Arab nation, saying the mass protests against the Hosni Mubarak regime were an articulation of the aspirations of the Egyptian people for reform.

Draft bill fixes 16 as age for consensual sexNew Delhi, February 1Bringing sexual offences against children under legal purview for the first time, a draft bill on the issue fixes 16 years as the age of consent for sex and awarding harsh punishments for offenders. Till now, all sexual abuse cases against children were tried under Sections 375 and 377 of the
IPC. While Section 375 also fixed 16 years as the minimum age of consent, there was no specific mention of offences against children as such.

Can’t cancel 2G licences without hearing
telcos: SCNew Delhi, February 1The Supreme Court today said it would not cancel the 2G licenses of defaulting telecom companies just on the basis of the CAG report without hearing them.A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and AK
Ganguly, however, made it clear that regularisation of these licenses by the government after levying some penalty would be subject to the apex court ruling on the
PILs.

A huge rush during the ITBP recruitment drive in Bareilly on Tuesday. The aspirants later created ruckus; and (above) a bus set on fire during violence . — PTI

Shahjahanur/Bareilly, Feb 1
Fifteen youths were killed and several others injured today when they fell from the roof of two speeding trains crammed with job aspirants returning from an ITBP recruitment camp in Bareilly in UP. The incidents triggered violent protests as angry youths torched a train.

Fourteen youths, travelling atop the Himgiri Express, were killed when they were hit by an overbridge near Shahjahanpur while another ITBP job-seeker died when he fell from the Traveni Express in Hardoi district, District Magistrate of Shahjahanpur Ajay Chauhan said.

Agitated over the death of the youths, the job aspirants ran amok at Shahjahanpur station torching two bogies of the Jammu-Tawi Express and manhandling the driver of the Himgiri train. Chauhan said train driver Mohammad Asif was assaulted by the mob but maintained only one coach was torched.

Uttar Pradesh Special DGP Brij Lal said the youths were killed when they fell from the Himgiri Express near Roja station, barely four-km from Shahjahanpur railway station. Over 12 ITBP aspirants were also injured, some of them critically, in the accident, he said.

The death toll was expected to rise as some youths also fell into Khannaut river, reports said. “The identity of the seven of those killed in Shahjahanpur accident is yet to be ascertained,” Chauhan said.

A 25-year-old job-seeker, returning home after taking part in the ITBP recruitment drive, died after falling from the Triveni Express near Balamau railway station in
Hardoi.

“Two special trains from Roja and Shahjahanpur have been arranged for tranporting the youths to their respective destinations,” the DM said. Some trains were cancelled and diverted in view of the accidents.

Earlier in the day, thousands of ITBP aspirants went on a rampage in Bareilly torching a number of vehicles after they failed to submit their forms due to alleged mismanagement of the authorities. They set ablaze seven buses, five of them belonging to the state roadways, some two-wheelers and a petrol pump, officials said. The incidents set off a blame-game between the Centre and Uttar Pradesh authorities. Home Minister P Chidambaram said the ITBP had informed the state police “well in advance” but the state police provided only “minimal forces”. — PTI

Mumbai, February 1
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has seized a large number of documents pertaining to allotment of flats and permissions given for constructing the Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society, according to sources. The documents were seized after the investigating agency opened a number of sealed flats belonging to the office-bearers of the society, according to sources.

Some of the documents were found in the office of the society while others were found in the properties belonging to several office-bearers, sources said. Among those whose premises were raided included Chief Promoter of Adarsh R C Thakur and society president M M Wanchoo.

Earlier, the agency had also sealed the premises belonging to former Deputy Secretary, Urban Development Department, P V Deshmukh who has a flat in the society. CBI's investigators are in the process of scrutinising the documents as part of the investigations in the housing scam.

Meanwhile, the investigating agency informed the Bombay High Court that it had filed an FIR against 13 persons in the Adarsh scam. However, the petitioner in the case, social activist Simpreet Singh has accused the agency of deliberately not including the name of former Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in the case.

Guwahati, February 1
The outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) held its crucial general council meeting to discuss various issues related to the nascent peace process with the Government of India.

The meeting, which started yesterday, concluded today at an undisclosed location in Nalbari district where over 300 cadres of the outfit along with all the pro-talks leaders led by the outfit’s ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa took part.

The other senior ULFA leaders, who attended the meeting, included vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, foreign secretary Sasadhar Choudhury, adviser Bhimkanta Buragohain, deputy commander in chief Raju Barua, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, central publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, cultural secretary Pranati Deka. All these leaders were recently released on bail from jail in the interest of the peace process. Leaders of the 28th battalion of the outfit, who had came over ground long back, also participated in the meeting.

ULFA maintains that the people of Assam would be apprised of the decisions taken in its general council meeting.

New Delhi, February 1
The government today told the Supreme Court that it was taking seriously the issue of leakage of conversation between Tata chief Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and that an inquiry has been ordered into it.

“The government views the disclosure of such information seriously and in this context, an inquiry has been ordered,” an affidavit filed by the government said. It also denied the allegation of Tata that it had adopted a lackadaisical attitude on a petition filed by Tata.

"I deny that the government has adopted a lackadaisical attitude or that it was standing by and allowing leaked material of this kind to be freely distributed and published," the two-page affidavit filed by Additional Director of Income Tax (Investigations) said.

The affidavit said that by an office memorandum issued on December 27, 2010, the Ministry of Finance appointed two senior officers to inquire into the leakage of "classified documents/telephonic intercepts".
— PTI

New Delhi, February 1
Days after seizure of unaccounted money from the monastery of 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje at Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister PK Dhumal today announced that the state would set up a unit to monitor activities of the 27,000-odd Tibetan refugees.

Dhumal along with the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and J&K raised a clutch of issues concerning their states at the Chief Ministers’ conference on internal security. He also suggested strengthening of intelligence gathering in the districts bordering China in view of the neighbouring country’s huge military development along the Sino-Indian border.

Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal called upon the Centre to take “immediate steps” to resolve religious, political, economic and geographical issues of Punjab. He said it was the Centre’s failure to resolve conflicts through established democratic representatives that was giving rise to a feeling in the minds of the masses that the mainstream democratic political leadership was failing to secure justice for them. “A perceived sense of injustice should not be allowed to become an emotional feeding ground for elements opposed to peace,” he said.

There was a perception that the Centre was unjust towards Punjab he said, adding: “Our Capital (Chandigarh) has been denied to us. Despite firm and concrete assurances, it has still not been transferred to us”.

Though Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda could not be present at the conference, his speech was read out. It referred to influx and intrusion of illegal Bangladeshis into Gurgaon and Faridabad and illicit arms finding their way into the state.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said after the prolonged unrest in the Valley, the intensity of the insurgency has declined in the state. However, incidents of breech of law and order had increased. Two committees have been constituted to examine and recommend areas for which the Armed Forces Special Powers Act could be withdrawn and they have been directed to submit their recommendations at the earliest, he added.

New Delhi, February 1
The Government's annual school education report released today presents a dismal picture of education outcomes. Nowhere near the Pratham methodology, which uses detailed tools to research what the students have grasped at school, the data released by the HRD Ministry calculates the learning outcomes on the basis of examination results of primary and upper primary students.

Even by this standard, the situation is dismal as the District Information System for Education Data 2009-2010 prepared by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration reveals just 49 per cent Indian students manage 60 per cent or plus scores in classes VII and VIII. At grades IV and V, this percentage is again meager — 56.

Lakshadweep is the only exception, with 100 per cent students across elementary level attaining 60 per cent plus scores in school exams. Andhra Pradesh is the second best while Orissa and Sikkim are the lowest performing with only about 18 per cent students listed as good scorers.

New Delhi, February 1
After closely monitoring the developments in Egypt over the past week, India today took what appeared to be a somewhat clear stand on the situation in the Arab nation, saying the mass protests against the Hosni Mubarak regime were an articulation of the aspirations of the Egyptian people for reform.

“It is hoped that the current situation will be resolved in a peaceful manner, in the best interests of the people of Egypt. India wishes that Egypt, a fellow developing country with which she enjoys close and traditional ties, will continue to be a strong and stable nation, contributing to peace and stability in the region,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

The statement came two days after New Delhi had made a bland statement on Sunday, hoping for an early and peaceful resolution of the situation in Egypt without further violence and loss of lives.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna had said the anti-government protests in Egypt was an “internal affair” of the Arab nation and hoped it would find a solution acceptable to the protesters.

280 more return

Mumbai: Another 280 Indians stranded in strife-torn Egypt reached here early Tuesday on a special flight. This is the second flight to Mumbai in Air India’s efforts to bring back the Indians stuck in different Egyptian cities.

‘AI fleecing us’

Passengers returning home complained that Air India charged a hefty Rs 45,000-55,000 for a one-way ticket to Mumbai but the airlines justified the fares, saying its services were not designated by the government as 'evacuation flights.'

New Delhi, February 1
Bringing sexual offences against children under legal purview for the first time, a draft bill on the issue fixes 16 years as the age of consent for sex and awarding harsh punishments for offenders. Till now, all sexual abuse cases against children were tried under Sections 375 and 377 of the IPC. While Section 375 also fixed 16 years as the minimum age of consent, there was no specific mention of offences against children as such.

The bill describes a child - boy or girl - as an individual below 18 years and suggests that in cases where “penetrative sexual assault” is committed against a child between 16 and 18 years , it should be considered whether the consent for such an act has been obtained against his or her will; or through fraud, coercion, undue influence, threats; or when the child did not have the capacity to understand the nature of the act; or if it was committed without the child's consent. The punishment recommended in such cases is imprisonment up to five years, says the draft of Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Bill, 2010. — PTI

New Delhi, February 1
The Supreme Court today said it would not cancel the 2G licenses of defaulting telecom companies just on the basis of the CAG report without hearing them.A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly, however, made it clear that regularisation of these licenses by the government after levying some penalty would be subject to the apex court ruling on the
PILs.

The PILs have sought cancellation of licenses of the companies which have failed to meet the service rollout obligations.

Counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for a PIL petitioner, sought withdrawal of the license on five grounds. First, the spectrum was allocated in 2008 at 2001 prices without adopting the auction route. The cut-off date for putting in the application was changed arbitrarily. Even the first-come, first-served norm was altered. Initially, this norm was for sending in the application, but later it was changed to that of making the cash payment of Rs 1,600 crore.

Also, many of the companies did not have any experience in telecom and were doing real estate or other business. The Bench directed the Centre to respond to the PILs within three weeks, while the petitioners should file their rejoinder in a week thereafter.

The Bench posted the next hearing for March 1.

Another petitioner, Dr Subramanium Swamy sought a copy of Justice Shivraj Patil report on the 2G scam. For this, the Bench asked him to approach the appropriate authorities.

Afghan Prez on two-day visit
NEW DELHI: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is arriving here on Wednesday on a two-day visit during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the situation in his war-torn nation. The visit comes within a month of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's visit to Kabul to seek assurances from the Afghan leadership to protect Indian interests in Afghanistan. — TNS

Coast Guard to treble its fleet
NEW DELHI:The Coast Guard will triple its fleet size from existing 100 vessels to 300 ships by 2020. Director General (Coast Guard) Vice Admiral Anil Chopra stated this here on Monday. The maritime security force, which works in tandem with the Navy, will also double its aviation wing's strength from the present 50 to 100 aircraft. Its manpower will be at 20,000 personnel from the existing 12,000 in the next decade. —
TNS

Supreme Court on Raja-judge row
NEW DELHI:The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Bar Council of India to proceed against advocate RK Chandramohan for allegedly trying to influence a Madras High Court Judge at the instance of then Telecom Minister A Raja. The Bench passed an order vacating the stay it had granted against the proceedings initiated by the HC after suspending Chandramohan as chairman of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. —
TNS

Ethiopia's invite to Indian farmers
NEW DELHI: Ethiopia has extended an invitation to Indian farmers for pursuing commercial farming there. Welcoming the offer, India has urged the Ethiopian government to set up single-window system for granting clearances to entrepreneurs who wished to pursue commercial farming there. — TNS

Doctorate for Sourav Ganguly
Silchar: Four eminent persons, including former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, were today awarded honorary doctorate degrees by the Assam University here. Besides Ganguly, eminent historian Dr Irfan Habib, artist Prof K G Subramanyam and Assamese litterateur and journalist Homen Borgohain were honoured with the degrees at a ceremony held at the University. — PTI

Inmates assault jail officials
HYDERABAD: Undertrials having links with Pakistan's ISI attacked prison officials with cricket bats, injuring many of them seriously, at the Cherlapally central prison in Hyderabad on Monday evening. Jail officials were on a surprise check following a tip-off that some prisoners were running illegal activities using cell phones. —
TNS

Advani mum on disrupting session
New Delhi: NDA chairman LK Advani on Tuesday reiterated the Opposition’s demand for a JPC to probe 2G and other scams. But with the Left parties adding the rider of allowing the House to run during the Budget session, Advani remained non-committal on this aspect. Advani said the strategy would be decided on the eve of the Budget session. — TNS